SISD Saves Money By Cutting Salaries

As some school districts frantically search for ways to slash their budgets, the Socorro Independent School District is taking steps to make sure it doesn’t find itself in such a desperate situation.

Unfortunately for eight of the district’s top administrators, those steps include thousands of dollars in pay cuts.

“I didn’t come in like a bull in a china shop,” SISD Superintendent Dr. Xavier De La Torre said.

De La Torre said the cuts are a must if the district does not want to end up begging taxpayers for money like other school districts in the Borderland.

He said the biggest cuts in pay will amount to $7,000. In a memo handed out to district employees, De La Torre said, “The new structure is committed to being ‘lean but mean’ to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to be successful.”

“Would they rather not lose salary? Of course,” De La Torre said. “But there’s no savings in that.”

De La Torre said the moves will save the district a million dollars a year, and he says employees need to consider the alternative: no job.

“It isn’t that difficult to do and we can do it in a way where people land on their feet,” De La Torre said. “They’re still getting paid a salary. They don’t lose health and welfare benefits.”

De La Torres said he strived to steer the cuts away from the classroom and away from school programs, and one SISD parent said that is the right move.

“Personally, I think it’s better when you take money from the top than when you take from the guys at the bottom,” Gabriel Escobar said. “The people at the bottom always trying to get the job done with less resources.”